The time of year Cape Fear-area anglers wait for through a seemingly endless winter is here when the calendar indicates May has arrived.

Warm fronts, longer days and the swollen Gulf Stream have warmed the Atlantic Oceans waters at the North Carolina coast this month. The heat from the sun promotes the growth of microscopic organisms, which fuel the food chain. Baitfish and shrimp begin multiplying and gather at North Carolinas inshore waters.

Standing in the shadows on the edge of the field, we knew we had gotten lucky. How lucky we were was not obvious yet, but judging by the number of doves roosting in the treeline to our immediate left and the powerline that crossed the road 200 yards in front of us, we were all justifiably excited. My sons, 14-year-old Clay and 11-year-old Will, pointed out this flock and that flock, and it was all I could do to encourage them to get to our stand before the official shooting time arrived.

The air was heavy and hot as the inside of a Turkish steam bath, typical summer weather at Southports waterfront.

The only way to defend against copious sweating was to sit in air conditioning or blow-dry it away with a fast boat ride. Yet despite the summer weather, for some anglers, it was about to become Christmas.

Lake Gaston is arguably one of the best lakes in North Carolina on which to fish for spawning bass. Its big, full of fish, the kinds of little pockets and coves with stumps that attract spawners, and the water level is stable, which keeps fish on the beds for a longer period of time.

Tar Heels get more excited about spotted sea trout, probably because anglers catch lots of them from the grass beds of Pamlico Sound during the warm season and get runs of big specks at Cape Point each winter.

Jason Quinn, a Lake Wylie resident and a highly successful professional bass angler, called his wife last year to get information about North Carolinas drought during a break at an Arkansas conference .

My wife said all the boat ramps at Lake Wylie were closed, he said, all but one.